Should believers tolerate opening the door to false prophets for the sake of dialogue? It’s one thing when a person gets on a one on one dialogue. It’s another when we bring in someone who is false in an audience where we endanger and expose a believer who is not grounded in the Word of God.
So, if a Reformed believer believes the “elect” will get saved regardless of the circumstance, is it then proper and prudent for us to expose ourselves to false doctrine? After all, God already knows who will accept and reject Him. This to me seems to be a very flawed and indifferent point of view that does not consider the ramifications of being complicit to the promulgation of a damning doctrine. This is far from being Christian according to 2 John 10-11, “ If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.“
In this matter, it is clear an old man who claims to be a believer in Jesus Christ, could hold to reformed theology and can easily toss passages in Scripture that strongly advises and warns against welcoming false prophets. Knowledge coupled with literal age does not always equal godly wisdom.
I sowed two batches of sunflowers a week apart. The first batch which I expected to be mature happens to grow at an inconsistent rate. Some grew much taller and some look to be stuck in the seedling stage. I water these plants every single day almost at the same time without fail but some are stunted.
My second batch however surpassed the first in development. They all seem to be almost closer in stalk thickness and height.
How come the first batch is stunted? There are two factors. It could be the soil quality or sun exposure. We all have a grasp on what plants need to thrive and it so happens the humongous tree from the neighbor’s backyard blocks most of the sunlight to get to the plants. This batch only gets partial sun during sunrise while the second batch gets exposure to the sun almost all day.
Exposure to the Son, Jesus Christ determines a person’s spiritual maturity. If a person reads material that is not Scripture even though it is spiritual in nature, we can be deceived in thinking we are closer to God. However, the only sure words that give life is God’s Word. If you find yourself reading more of Spurgeon or C.S. Lewis, you stifle the Holy Spirit’s personal insight that He gives to you. You only get partial exposure. I don’t mean new revelations but insights that clarify and are in accordance to Scripture. We can all learn from other people but aren’t you curious of what profound and personal insight that the Holy Spirit will teach and show you?
God’s Word is authoritative. People’s modern writings are not. By now you’re probably thinking what I’m writing does not make sense but when it comes down to it, all I am saying is this… You can take someone else’s insight but don’t feed on it entirely. Don’t depend heavily on someone else’s theology. Form your own by delving into the Word of God and cling to it. Start by clinging to His promises. Only then will you take full exposure from the Son and direct and constant exposure to the Son’s Words leads to spiritual maturity.
“But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again–ever! In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up within him for eternal life.”
John 4:14
